galilee
n. countablen. a porch or small chapel at the entrance of a church. It is usually found at the western end of the building.
n. an architectural porch or vestibule at the western entrance of some medieval churches, often used as a space for those not permitted to enter the main sanctuary.
The visitors gathered in the galilee before entering the cathedral.
The cathedral's galilee served as a transition space where penitents could hear the service without entering the nave.
Architectural historians note that the galilee at Durham Cathedral is particularly significant for its late Romanesque style and its historical function as a chapel for women.
Inherited from Middle English Galilee, from Old French Galilee, from Latin Galilaea, from Ancient Greek Γᾰλῑλαίᾱ (Gălīlaíā), from Hebrew גָּלִיל (galíl).
Often used with a capital letter when referring to a specific historical structure, though the architectural term itself is a common noun.